Simple poems, simple faith by Deb Feller

“I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you shall dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.” Joshua 24:13

This reminds me of a time share – only they got to stay and not pay!

Lord, we thank You for forgiveness, mercy and grace, none of which we could ever work or earn on our own. We abide and rest in You, a type of dwelling place that we could not build for ourselves. Your word grows within us and nourishes us, something we never planted or imagined. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Imagine That

We have what we
haven’t worked for

we live within
what we haven’t built

we have food
that no one knows of

all of this
without shame or guilt.

This is the last post from The Book of Joshua. 🙂 On Monday, I go back to the New Testament, The Book of Acts. Thanks so much for all of your help and support!

“Therefore take diligent heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:11
“Or else, if indeed you go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations – these that remain among you – and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you,” Joshua 23:12
“know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you . . .” Joshua 23:13

Turning away from God can be disastrous.

Oh Lord, let any turning I do be toward You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5

I recall a conversation with a dear neighbor. She said no one does all that God tells us to in the Bible. Maybe she’s right . . .but it doesn’t change my desire to want to.

Lord, I love you and I want to love You more. Please show me where I’m not following after You today. And here is a simple poem . . .

“And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands in the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.” Joshua 20:4

Our enemy is hot on our heals, as we step within the gate where Jesus declares us forgiven and one of His.

Thank You, Jesus, for giving us a place within You. And here’s a simple poem . . .

“And the land was subdued before them.” Joshua 18:1
“But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance.” Joshua 18:2
“Then Joshua said to the children of Israel, ‘How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you’?” Joshua 18:3

The children of Israel had been quite busy with the subduing of the land. Maybe it slipped their minds exactly what they were fighting for.

Lord, in the activity of daily life, may I not neglect to possess all You have already given me. And here’s a simple poem . . .

“And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph – to Ephraim and Manasseh – saying, ‘You are a great people and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, (Joshua 17:17)
but the mountain country shall be yours. Although it is wooded, you shall cut it down, and its farthest extent shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites though they have iron chariots and are strong’.” (Joshua 17:18)

The children of Joseph were wanting more than one lot and portion of land. They just might not have expected their “more” to bring with it the challenges it did.

Lord, as I seek more of You, let me not be intimidated by the work and challenges it brings. And here’s a simple poem . . .

Blessed With Him

We are blessed
in His presence
where we’re closest
to His heart
so we might find
in life’s hard moments
that we are blessed
most of all.

“The lot fell to the children of Joseph, from the Jordan, by Jericho, to the waters of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho through the mountains to Bethel, (Joshua 16:1)
then went out from Bethel to Luz, passed along to the border of the Archites at Ataroth, (Joshua 16:2)
and went down westward to the boundary of the Japhletites, as far as the boundary of Lower Beth Horon to Gezer, and it ended at the sea. (Joshua 16:3)
So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.” (Joshua 16:4)

There is something about the way the borders are described that speaks to me of much love, thought and care.

Oh Lord, help us to understand our own boundaries and borders today. And here’s a simple poem . . .